Police send helicopter to rescue Papa Smurf

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A police helicopter and patrol cars were called to assist a 'lifeless body' in Düsseldorf that turned out to be less of an emergency than they expected.

A train passenger called the police on Tuesday to report a body wearing red trousers and a blue jacket that he had seen out of the window near the tracks.

Police immediately rushed patrol cars and a helicopter to the scene and identified the limp figure by the train tracks as a partially-deflated Papa Smurf - or Papa Schlumpf, as he is known in German - within seven minutes.

They found that the beloved children's character was suffering from nothing worse than a slight lack of helium and brought him back to the police station - safely secured against any mishap en route.

But once back at the station, they were unable to contact any of the victim's blue-skinned relatives.

"The emergency call from the witness was completely justified," police said in a statement.

"Under different conditions, it could have saved lives."

They said that everyone should report dangerous situations using the phone numbers 02131-3000 or in an emergency 110.

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